Journal article
Aerobic exercise promotes executive functions and impacts functional neural activity among older adults with vascular cognitive impairment
British journal of sports medicine, Vol.52(3), pp.184-191
02/2018
DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2016-096846
PMID: 28432077
Abstract
BackgroundVascular cognitive impairment (VCI) results from cerebrovascular disease, and worldwide, it is the second most common type of cognitive dysfunction. While targeted aerobic training is a promising approach to delay the progression of VCI by reducing cardiometabolic risk factors, few randomised controlled trials to date have specifically assessed the efficacy of aerobic training on cognitive and brain outcomes in this group at risk for functional decline.AimTo examine the effect of moderate-intensity aerobic training on executive functions and functional neural activity among older adults with mild subcortical ischaemic VCI (SIVCI).MethodsOlder adults with mild SIVCI were randomly assigned to: (1) 6-month, 3×/week aerobic training (n=10) or (2) usual care (control; n=11). Participants completed functional MRI (fMRI) at baseline and trial completion. During the fMRI sessions, behavioural performance on the Eriksen flanker task and task-evoked neural activity were assessed.ResultsAt trial completion, after adjusting for baseline general cognition, total white matter lesion volume and flanker performance, compared with the control group, the aerobic training group significantly improved flanker task reaction time. Moreover, compared with the controls, the aerobic training group demonstrated reduced activation in the left lateral occipital cortex and right superior temporal gyrus. Reduced activity in these brain regions was significantly associated with improved (ie, faster) flanker task performance at trial completion.SummaryAerobic training among older adults with mild SIVCI can improve executive functions and neural efficiency of associated brain areas. Future studies with greater sample size should be completed to replicate and extend these findings.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Aerobic exercise promotes executive functions and impacts functional neural activity among older adults with vascular cognitive impairment
- Creators
- Chun Liang Hsu - Center for Hip Health and Mobility, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaJohn R Best - Center for Hip Health and Mobility, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaJennifer C Davis - Center for Hip Health and Mobility, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaLindsay S Nagamatsu - School of Kinesiology, Western University, London, Ontario, CanadaShirley Wang - Center for Hip Health and Mobility, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaLara A Boyd - Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaGY Robin Hsiung - Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaMichelle W Voss - Health, Brain, & Cognition Lab, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USAJanice Jennifer Eng - Rehabilitation Research Program, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaTeresa Liu-Ambrose - Center for Hip Health and Mobility, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- British journal of sports medicine, Vol.52(3), pp.184-191
- DOI
- 10.1136/bjsports-2016-096846
- PMID
- 28432077
- NLM abbreviation
- Br J Sports Med
- ISSN
- 0306-3674
- eISSN
- 1473-0480
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100015098, name: Canadian Stroke Network; DOI: 10.13039/100004411, name: Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada; name: Jack Brown and Family Alzheimer Research Foundation Society
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/2018
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
- Record Identifier
- 9984002332702771
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